Three armed robberies rock the Costa del Sol

The string of assaults, which police have not said are related, began when a gunman held up a pharmacy on Calle Infantes in Huelin. The assailant allegedly wore a ski mask before hitting an employee and threatening him for money.

The next day at 8.40am a man wearing a balaclava and motorcycle helmet robbed a branch of Unicaja in Calle La Hoz, just 50 metres from the pharmacy. The man apparently pulled out a gun and told staff to give him money before a woman ran out into the street and raised the alarm. The man escaped before police arrived. According to one publication, a witness explained a bank employee was injured in one hand.

Minutes later at 9am an assailant wearing a motorcycle helmet and wielding an axe held up a Unicaja in Benamargosa. At the time of the robbery only the bank’s two staff members were in the building. The man threatened the staff and made off with around €18,000 in cash, some of which fell onto the street as he made his escape. Passersby apparently returned money they had found on the street to the bank.

The Guardia Civil has now located the alleged perpetrator and recovered the money. They are now investigating whether he was working with an accomplice.

The spate of burglaries are not the only violent crimes to hit the Costa del Sol in recent months. Last month, five people were arrested after shots were fired at a nightclub in Marbella, leaving four wounded.

Local Police in Estepona found the burned-out vehicle belonging to the shooter after the incident at the Casa Masa club on Calle Victor O’hayon Taplero. One of those injured was left in intensive care after being shot in the chest and stomach, while three others remained in hospital with bullet wounds to their legs or stomachs.

The National Police are now investigating what caused the incident, which took place at around 9pm.